Kolhapur Civic Polls Witness Tight Contest Between Alliances
Vote counting for the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation began at 10 am on Friday. The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance faces a close contest against the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi. Both groups are competing for control of the 81-member civic body.
Current Leads Show Neck-and-Neck Race
As counting continues, the Mahayuti alliance holds a narrow lead. They are ahead in 25 seats. The MVA alliance follows closely with leads in 21 wards. The remaining seats remain undecided at this stage.
Mahayuti alliance candidates contested across different parties. The BJP fielded candidates in 36 seats. The Shiv Sena contested 30 seats. The NCP put forward candidates for six seats.
Within the MVA camp, the Congress contested most seats. They fielded candidates in 75 wards. Shiv Sena (UBT) contested the remaining six seats.
Statewide Civic Elections Held on Thursday
Kolhapur voters cast their ballots on Thursday. Elections took place simultaneously for 28 other civic bodies across Maharashtra. These local polls attracted significant attention across the state.
BJP Poised for Major Victory in Mumbai BMC
The BJP appears set to secure the mayor's post in Mumbai's Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. Along with ally Shiv Sena, they are on track to achieve their highest-ever tally in the BMC.
This development marks a significant shift. The undivided Shiv Sena controlled the BMC for 27 years. The party split in 2022 into factions led by Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray.
Uddhav Thackeray's father Bal Thackeray founded the Shiv Sena in 1966. The BMC holds distinction as India's richest municipal corporation. It ranks among Asia's wealthiest civic bodies with an annual budget of Rs 74,400 crore for 2026-27.
The counting process continues across multiple locations. Final results will determine control of these important urban local bodies.
